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The Daily Insight

How do you troubleshoot a deep well pump

Author

Nathan Sanders

Published Mar 15, 2026

Check for blown fuses and tripped breakers.Check the Voltage. Voltage needs to be at +/- 10% of motor ratings. … Check Pressure Switch. … Check the Control Panel. … Check Splice Connections. … Check the Pump and Motor.

How do I know if my deep well pump is bad?

  1. Fluctuations in water pressure throughout the home.
  2. Strange noises or rapid clicking sounds coming from the tank.
  3. Spitting faucets.
  4. Scalding shower water.
  5. High electric bills.

How do you fix a water pump that is not pumping water?

  1. Turn power to pump off.
  2. Remove gauge with bushing or bladder tank from top of pump.
  3. Pour water into pump until water fills pump housing.
  4. Replace gauge and bushing or tank, TIGHTEN.
  5. Turn power on.
  6. Open faucet or hose bib at pump to bleed air from system.

What causes a deep well pump to lose pressure?

A well pump may naturally lose its prime if left inactive for extended periods of time. … Other common causes include air leaks in either the impeller or the pump casing, faulty check valves inside of the well pump, or a damaged foot valve at the bottom of your well.

Why is my submersible pump not pumping?

A leak in your system will cause both of these issues. Replace any leaking or damaged pipes and check the water level to make sure that your pump hasn’t exceeded the well capacity. A faulty pressure switch will also cause the motor stay on or cycle too fast. Double-check the settings, and clean the contacts.

What are the symptoms of a bad pressure tank?

You can check the gauge down at the bottom and if you’re running water of any sort and that pressure is bouncing up to your top, which is 60 PSI (usually), down to a 40, and it’s doing that a lot and its very frequent, then usually that is a bad tank.

How do you test a well pump?

  1. Step #1: Check the voltage of your well motor. …
  2. Step #2: Turn off power to your well motor. …
  3. Step #3: Hooking the cords. …
  4. Step #4: Checking the Insulation Resistance. …
  5. Replacing the well pump’s pressure switch. …
  6. Check if the pump has power issues.

How do you diagnose a well problem?

  1. Common Symptoms.
  2. No water. The most basic problem, of course, is no water in the house. …
  3. Sputtering water. …
  4. Cloudy or muddy water. …
  5. High utility bills. …
  6. Poor tasting (or smelling) water. …
  7. Pressure switch problems. …
  8. Pulling and Replacing a Pump.

How do you test a well pump check valve?

Shut off the water supply to the check valve. Follow the water line backwards (the flow of water is indicated by an arrow on the check valve) and switch off the next valve. Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the water pressure to subside. Check the valve for debris by tapping its side with the handle of a screwdriver.

Where is the pressure switch on a well pump?

You’ll find the pressure switch mounted on a 1/4-in. tube near the pressure tank. It’s what senses when water pressure has dropped to the point where the pressure tank requires more water. The switch then powers up the well pump.

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Why am I not getting water from my well?

Malfunctions can happen due to a blown circuit, power outage or a broken component. Homeowners can begin troubleshooting at the well pump power switch. Check to see if there’s power flowing to the system.

How do you reset a submersible well pump?

Move the reset lever up into the start position and hold it there. (You should hear water moving into the pressure tank from the well.) Hold the reset lever in the start position until the pressure builds up and the gauge reads over 40 PSI; then let it return to the AUTO position.

How do you unblock a submersible well pump?

One of the most reliable ways to clear a clogged pump is to physically remove the clogging debris by releasing the vacuum, disconnecting the suction tube and letting the water rush back through the suction tube to flush out the debris, however the debris still remains in the water to be pumped.

Why is my well pump not kicking on?

Your well pump may have stopped working due to lack of power. Sometimes resetting a breaker or replacing a fuse affected by a power surge or brownout can fix this. If the well pump circuit breaker has tripped, the well pump itself may be failing. … Then switch the circuit breaker off and on.

What happens when a well pressure tank goes bad?

Over time, your pipes may break. Water hammers can occur when a well pressure tank is no longer able to maintain a constant, optimal water pressure in your home. Instead, water flow is more apt to experience fluctuations that result in water hammers.

How do you tell if pressure switch on well pump is bad?

  1. Your water pressure is at or above the cut-out pressure, yet the pump doesn’t turn off.
  2. Your pump doesn’t turn on at the proper cut-in pressure.
  3. You have low water pressure even though the pump is running.
  4. Your pump runs, but it cycles on and off repeatedly.

Does a deep well pump have a check valve?

Many well pumps have built-in check valves. Even if a pump does have a built-in check valve, we recommend that a check valve be installed in the discharge line within 25 feet of the pump and below the draw down level of the water supply.

How do you know if check valve is bad?

Symptoms of a Failing Check Valve For example, failing check valves will start to vibrate and even lose some internal parts when problems begin to arise. Other symptoms of check valve failure include reverse flow and excessive component wear and damage. Check valves will also emit noises as they start to break down.

How much does it cost to replace a well pump pressure switch?

ComponentPart PriceTotal Cost (With Labor)Pressure Switch$20 – $40$120 – $175Pump Sleeve$40 – $60$150 – $400

Where is the reset button on a sump pump?

  1. Locate the reset button on the motor. If there isn’t one, locate the on/off switch and turn it off, or unplug the pump directly from the electrical outlet.
  2. Look inside of the sump pump. …
  3. Plug the pump back in or move the switch back to the on position if there was no reset button.

How do you reset a well pump after a power outage?

Using your insulated pliers, in case of stray electrical current, lift the lever upward. You should hear the pump kick on. Hold this lever in the upward position until you notice the pressure gauge get up to above 30 or so. Now if you turn it loose the pump should stay on and you are back in business.

What is pump performance test?

The purpose of pump performance test is to ensure that the actual performance of a pump is typical to that set by supplier. … Open the discharge valve in small increments until it is fully open and take the readings of the discharge pressure, flow rate, suction pressure and pump Ampere at each of the steps.

What are the 3 wires on a well pump?

In a 3-wire well pump configuration, the motor is connected by a black, red, yellow, and green (ground) wire. Three-wire pumps utilize a separate control box outside the pump that houses the important starting components, which is usually mounted on a nearby wall above the ground.